BRIEFLY

Smoking ban compromise OK'd

COLUMBIA — Legislation that would ban smoking in South Carolina restaurants but allow exceptions for bars was approved by a Senate committee Tuesday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-3 in favor of the proposal, which is a compromise between business owners worried about losing smokers' money and health advocates concerned about secondhand smoke.

The bill now heads to the Senate floor for debate.

Diocese to again nominate Lawrence

The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina again will attempt to elect the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence as its new bishop after his election was invalidated last month by the head of the national church.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori invalidated the election after several dioceses failed to submit proper, written consent for Lawrence's election as required by church law.

The Standing Committee agreed Tuesday to hold an annual meeting in June and make plans for a special meeting to elect Lawrence, said the Rev. J. Haden McCormick, head of the committee.

Folly rejects $3.6M community center

Folly Beach — City voters on Tuesday rejected a plan to construct a $3.6 million community center on the island.

Of 369 votes cast, 170 were in favor of the plan and 199 were against it.

The center would have housed a new library, a meeting hall and a cultural arts center.

Folly Beach would have footed about $1.7 million of the cost, and Charleston County would have paid more than $1.9 million.

$17M subdivision deal falls through

Awendaw — A $17 million deal for a major subdivision recently fell through.

The proposed 400-home gated development on 325 acres in Awendaw known as the White Tract would have doubled the population of the town.

Awendaw rezoned the tract for planned development last fall, despite residents' opposition.

Man reportedly shot in North Charleston

An 18-year-old was shot Tuesday night, reportedly in the Charleston Farms community in North Charleston.

A man called police about 9:10 p.m. and reported that his brother was shot at several times as he left a store on Attaway Street, police spokesman Spencer Pryor said. The man took his brother, who had been shot once in the stomach or chest area, to Roper North Hospital, Pryor said.

Pryor said the wound was not life threatening and police were searching for the crime scene.

McCain cancels Lexington visit

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain canceled his Tuesday appearance in Lexington, and several other presidential candidates canceled events elsewhere in the wake of the massacre at Virginia Tech.

The Arizona senator plans to resume campaigning today with a town hall meeting at 9 a.m. in Murrells Inlet, followed by a similar town meeting at 12:30 p.m. in Summerville at the VFW Post at 10154 Bellwright Road.

Burger's surgery goes well, wife says

Post and Courier sports columnist Ken Burger's surgery for prostate cancer went exceptionally well Tuesday, said his wife, Bonnie Grossman.

Grossman said all the cancer appears to have been removed. Further tests to verify that will be done later in the week.

Burger, who underwent surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, has been writing a weekly column about his battle with prostate cancer.